Greensboro, North Carolina is right smack in the middle of the state the nation (led by Webb Wellman) has dubbed The Hoop State. Right in the heart of Tobacco Road, where every college basketball season, the entire country has a pulse on what is happening along its basketball landscape. Basketball is not only incredibly high level, it is also a right of passage, so to speak.

6’2 senior AJ McKee (Queens University Commit)

That means when you have defending state champions playing one another, it turns heads. Especially when those two state champions are the state’s two largest classifications winners. The NCHSAA, the public schools, goes up to 4 classifications, the largest 4A. The NCISAA, private schools, goes up to 3 classifications (the 2018-19 year is the first year of 4 NCISAA classifications), the largest has been 3A.

Well Phenom’s High School Jamboree will have the NCHSAA 4A state champion Independence face off with NCISAA 3A state champ Greensboro Day face off. Heading into the 2018-19 season, with these two teams returning a lot of fire power, should be considered as favorites to defend their titles.

Starting with Independence High School, coming off a 31-1 season and a run through the playoffs that saw them win each game by an average of 10 points. They return three of their top 4 leading scorers, rebounders, assists and steals leaders. They also welcome in 6’7” jack of all trades Tyler Harris, a transfer from local Northside Christian.

This team has players committed to Murray State (6’6” Matthew Smith), Queens University (6’2” AJ McKee) and Western Carolina (6’7” Tyler Harris). They also return steady point guard 6’2” Raja Milton (9.7 Points, 40% 3P, 3.3 Boards, 3 Assists and 2 Steals per game) who is a major target for many D2 programs.

Head Coach Preston Davis is an Independence alum, who won a state title in 1997 here. He also stared at Presbyterian in early 2000s as a player. Davis coaches an incredibly tough style of defense which is led by the very switchable Smith and Harris and then there is McKee, who may be the best point of attack defender in the state (many closely compare him to a high school version of Patrick Beverly).

Over to Greensboro Day, whose history speaks for itself. Head Coach Freddy Johnson is already a member of the North Carolina basketball Hall of Fame and is the state’s all time wins leader. He holds a career 1019-290 record, good for winning 77.9% of his games. He has also won 10 state titles, including 3 of the previous 4. To say Johnson is an accomplished coach would be an understatement.

6’3″ 2021 5-star Carson McCorkle (UVa Commit)

But when you give a great coach players, that is when all the stars align. Starting with what many are calling the best backcourt in North Carolina, a pair of 6’3” sophomores Carson McCorkle and Cam Hayes. McCorkle, a 5-Star early UVa commitment, represented Team USA this summer in the FIBA 3-on-3 championships. Hayes is also a Top 100 talent who already carries numerous Power-5 offers. Both are explosive shot makers who can create their own offense, or for others.

Up front, Greensboro Day has great size with a host of D1 prospects. 6’9” Michael Fowler, a James Madison commit, has great length and pick/pop range. 6’7” senior Nic Evtimov (who carries 10+ D1 offers) is a bully on the block, skilled with great hands and incredible strength/tenacity. New transfer 6’9” sophomore Josh Taylor is another Top 150 type prospect who will be a featured target of Power 5 programs across the country. Add in 6’1” senior guard Austin Inge, 6’4” senior wing Noah Dunn and 6’5” junior wing Christian Bailey as more college level prospects and a host of other talented players and you have a deep and talented squad.

Without question, both these teams have the Jimmy’s and Joe’s and both the benches excel at the X’s and O’s. While only a scrimmage, this will be the very first MUST SEE game in North Carolina’s 2018-19 season. Any type of hoop head in the Hoop State will want to swing by and watch this matchup. A chess match on the sidelines and a blood bath on the floor.

Click Here for the Schedule .. November 3 (Saturday) in Greensboro, NC